Building bonds – and a house
Members Carolina’s classes of 2015 and 1965 have come together to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Efland, North Carolina.
Their graduation years may be five decades apart, but members Carolina’s classes of 2015 and 1965 have been developing a close relationship as Commencement approaches – thanks to a public service project with strong Carolina roots.
“The Carolina bond transcends decades,” said Alexis White, vice president of the Class of 2015. “And so getting to know different classmates from 1965 that have reached out and talked to us, they’re so excited, and they’re just as excited about this project as we are.”
The project is a Habitat for Humanity house in Efland, North Carolina. As they were discussing an appropriate class gift for this year’s graduates, White and Class President Sasha Seymore wanted to create something that would leave an impact long after they left Carolina. They also wanted the gift to benefit someone with a connection to the University.
That’s why Thi Thi Toe, who works for Carolina Dining Services, and her family were the perfect recipients of the new Habitat for Humanity home.
“We wanted it to be someone that everyone in the class of 2015 would have potentially interacted with, and that’s the dining hall workers,” White said.
Since October, members of the senior class have been spending their Saturdays working on the home — building floors, raising walls, nailing down shingles and installing vinyl siding.
The class had a steady supply of volunteer labor, but was coming up short in another way. That’s where the Class of 1965 came in.
“We decided to reach out to the Class of 1965 and said ‘Hey, if we build this house, will you help fund it?’ and they stepped up big time,” Seymore said. “It’s been real special to see how our class has connected with their class to continue that tradition of service that Carolina embodies.”
As they celebrate their 50th reunion this weekend, Coleman Ross hopes that tradition will continue.
“We have an excellent relationship with the Class of 2015,” Ross said. “We’re hoping that for the Class of 2065, they step up and help them as perhaps we’ve tried to help them here.”
